Grandad, 53, who died stuck upside down on 280ft chimney was upset with police for dropping historical sex abuse probe

Alex Matthews

23 Mar 2020, 16:44

Updated: 23 Mar 2020, 16:49

A GRANDAD who died stuck upside down an 280ft chimney had battled depression over police dropping a historical sex abuse probe.

Robert Philip Longcake, 53, had climbed to the top of Dixon's Chimney in Carlisle when his boot got caught on a ladder.

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Robert Philip Longcake, 53, had climbed to the top of Dixon's Chimney in Carlisle when his boot got caught on a ladder

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A cherry picker removed Mr Longcake 24 hours after he climbed the tower in Carlisle, but was too late to save himCredit: PA:Press Association

He was brought down from the building almost 24 hours after he began to climb it on October 28 last year and pronounced dead shortly after.

But, coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw told a Carlisle inquest he could not be certain if Mr Longcake had attempted to jump or had changed his mind at the top of the chimney.

He said: "He deliberately placed himself in a position of extreme peril with the intent of taking his own life but it is uncertain whether he took the ultimate step or he slipped and fell accidentally."

Mr Loncake’s children Robert and Laura and brother John attended the hearing but his widow Andrea, who is still struggling with his passing, was not present.

He deliberately placed himself in a position of extreme peril with the intent of taking his own life but it is uncertain whether he took the ultimate step or he slipped and fell accidentally.

Dr Nicholas Shaw

In a statement, Mrs Longcake said her husband started what seemed to be a mid-life crisis in April last year and spoke to police about historical sexual abuse in August.

He had moved out of the family home on October 19 after she discovered he was having an affair with another woman.

Mr Longcake had attempted suicide in August and earlier in October, she said.

Ms Longcake told the hearing: "Phil was a good man, a good husband, a good father and a good grandfather who never put a foot wrong until this year."

HISTORICAL ABUSE

Pc Andrea Williams told the court there had not been enough evidence to proceed with Mr Longcake's allegations of abuse.

She said: "Quite understandably he was upset with the decision."

The coroner said Mr Longcake had been "troubled so greatly" by the abuse.

He added: "The fact it could not be pursued would seem to have hit him so hard."

Pc Williams said CCTV showed Mr Longcake walking with ladders towards Dixon's Chimney shortly after 5.30pm on October 27 and then climbing the structure.

The fact it could not be pursued would seem to have hit him so hard.

Pc Andrea Williams

Police were contacted at about 2.15am by Royal Mail worker Michael Swinglehurst, who was on shift at the nearby sorting office and heard groaning noises but did not know where they were coming from.

The court heard police, firefighters, mountain rescue teams and the Coastguard were involved with the operation to try and rescue Mr Longcake, who was hanging upside down from the ladder at the top of the chimney in freezing temperatures.

Inspector Craig Lory said the plan was initially to use a helicopter to rescue Mr Longcake, but it caused a strong down draft and the plan was aborted when they realised how precariously he was attached to the building.

He said: "The top prong of the ladder was actually inserted in his boot and that was all that was holding him up."

A 90-metre tall cherry picker was brought to the scene from Glasgow and arrived at 2pm.

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Ladders were installed to the chimney from the cherry picker and firefighters climbed up, on the opposite side to Mr Longcake, and were able to secure a harness and allow him to be lowered down, the inquest was told.

Recording a narrative verdict, Dr Shaw said it was likely Mr Longcake died at about 8am.

His cause of death was recorded as hypothermia and cerebral swelling due to inverted suspension.

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